Brenau University Cheer Squad ranks second nationally in its first year

Brenau University’s newest Golden Tigers intercollegiate team set out to make a good impression during its inaugural season and did exactly that, placing second in the nation in National Cheerleading Association Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championships competition in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Competing in the All-Girl intermediate division for smaller schools April 12-13, Brenau finished less than half a point behind the Vikings from Ocean County College in Toms River, N.J. Others that competed in the category included teams from Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Mass., The University of Texas at Dallas, and Queens University of Charlotte, N.C.

“The Tigers showed great teamwork, communication, mental preparedness and focus during the whole competition,” said Cheer Coach Krista Britt. “I could not have asked for a better performance – the definition of teamwork. It was definitely the highlight of my coaching career.”

Not only were the Tigers performing at the championship level in their first year, but they also had to perform outside at Daytona. All previous competitions had been indoors.

The Golden Tigers qualified for the competition through a video submission of the team tumbling, partner stunting, pyramids and basket tosses, along with a 45-second piece of the team’s leading the crowd at a Brenau University basketball game this past season. Because of the submission, the team headed to the championship competition ranked third.

Highlights of the NCA Championships will be shown on CBS Sports Network on April 29 and May 6 at 12 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

NCA is a private company that, among other things, manages existing cheerleading competitions for college, university and high school teams around the nation. Most Brenau teams compete intercollegiately in the women’s division of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Although the NAIA has sanctioned competitive cheer as a varsity sport in its members institutions, it has yet to authorize a championship tournament or series.

Ironically, Brenau President Ed Schrader attended a meeting of the NAIA president’s council in California advocating an NAIA-sanctioned tournament in the sport the same weekend the Tigers competed in the NCA event.

“We’re very optimistic that there will be an NAIA national competition soon,” Schrader said. “This is one of the fastest-growing sports in the national and at Brenau it is destined probably to be our largest intercollegiate squad.”

For more information about competitive cheer at Brenau contact Britt at 770-538-4778 or kbritt@brenau.edu. For information about the Golden Tigers athletics, consult the web site at www.brenautigers.com.